Shakespearean characters, speaking Elizabethan English, came alive on a rural stage. It was a marvellous experience for the people of Champakkulam, a village in Alappuzha, recently.
The occasion was the staging of Macbeth for over three-and-a-half hours by Straford Stage, a theatre group formed at St. Mary’s HSS, Champakkulam. The performance was a rare feat, considering the fact that 37 pupils, studying in Classes 5 to 9, portrayed the complexities of human emotions and expressions that had transcended ages.
“It was the culmination of a successful experiment in theatre, based on the works of Shakespeare”, says Josephkunju, teacher and Director. “Nothing is better than the portrayal of the Shakespearean drama in its original form,” says the theatre enthusiast who had adopted abridged versions of various works of Shakespeare for stage performances earlier. The plays included Julius Caesar, Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra, and Hamlet .
Mr. Josephkunju had also written and directed a play based on a Shakespearean theme in Twelfth Night – “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them” – under the title Star wars .
“Shakespeare wrote plays only to be staged. Anybody who learns Shakespeare only to know the story or for the definite purpose of writing answers to questions in examinations will definitely get disappointed,” Mr. Josephkunju says.
It was a tough task for him to find the right person for each character. Once the students were selected, it required rigorous practice which was carried out meticulously after school hours and on holidays, for about four months. The performance was well-appreciated by the parents, mostly ordinary people who could see their wards speaking Elizabethan English with ease and elegance.
“It happened in a remote village. The theatre performance boosted the confidence of the actors who could effectively emote the human tragedies and triumphs on stage. While the participants were enjoying the enactment of their respective roles, the parents were amazed at the way their children were speaking English,” the theatre activist and teacher, who is planning more performances, says.
